Event details
Dragon boating is a fun-filled, adrenaline-pumping, water sports activity. Teams compete in Dragon Boats, which are large canoe-like vessels fitted with ornately carved dragon heads and tails.
Crews of up to 17 people sit in pairs and paddle to compete in races over distances of around 250m with each boat having a drummer, beating time to keep the paddlers in unison.
Our Dragon Boat Race is ideal for corporate teams providing the ultimate team-building platform to boost morale whilst promoting key abilities essential in a work environment. Dragon Boat Racing is an exhilarating and addictive sport that requires communication and teamwork to be successful.
No experience is required - teams will have crew briefings and training and all equipment is supplied including life jackets.
Each team will compete in a minimum of 3 races and are aiming to set the fastest time each round. The teams with the fastest single times will then go into the Grand Final to compete for gold, silver, and bronze Dragon Boat Challenge medals and the winning team will be presented with an engraved Champions Trophy - The Shakespeare Hospice Dragon Boat Champions 2025.
We ask that each Dragon Boat Race team raises a minimum of £1,000 for the Hospice. This is approximately £50 per team member. You can do this by setting up an Enthuse page for your team and sharing it with your family, friends, and colleagues.
We take a deposit of £250 to secure your boat when you register your team. This goes towards your £1,000 fundraising target.
Find out how to pay your deposit on the registration form at the end of this pack. If you’re racing as part of a business or organisation, you can pay the full amount (£1,000) at the time of booking.
Please complete and return the registration form in the downloadable event pack above as soon as possible. We won’t ask for all your team members' names yet, but you’ll need to pick a Team Name (puns are encouraged!) and pay your deposit to secure your boat.
If you want to take part but don't have a full team of participants, or maybe you help another team fill up their numbers, you can click on the "Individual Registration" link below. Our Events team will do our best to put you in a team and ensure that you can still participate.
Individual participants will need to pay a £10 deposit, with a pledge to raise £50.
Email us at fundraising@theshakespearehospice.org.uk to express your interest.
Alternatively, you can download your registration form below
Join the excitement on our Dragon Boat Race Facebook event page - we want to see your team’s fun, creative videos!
We’ve kicked things off with our own video, and now it’s your turn to show us what you’ve got. Whether it’s training clips, team chants, or behind-the-scenes bloopers, we’re here for it!
Don’t forget to tag @TheShakespeareHospice and use #TeamShakespeare so we can share your amazing moments!
